LOUISVILLE – CITY OF CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRASTS
In Kentucky’s largest city, sports enthusiasts can see and experience just as much as discerning culture freaks. However, Louisville is not necessarily on the A-list of tourist destinations in the USA.
According to ask4beauty, Louisville is not necessarily on the A-list of tourist destinations in the US. The city is ranked number 27 in the top 30 largest US cities, but it does not have any of the world-famous landmarks that everyone associates with the United States of America. The Statue of Liberty belongs to New York and the Golden Gate Bridge cannot easily go from San Francisco to the border between Kentucky and Indiana be relocated. This is exactly where Louisville is located, a city that is definitely worth a visit. Not only, but also because it is home to one of the greatest living US idols of all. Here Cassius Clay saw the light of day. The boxing legend that later renamed itself Muhamad Ali and is still revered around the world today – and not just for boxing, by the way.
Cassius Clay at home
To this day, Muhammad Ali is one of the world’s most famous faces and of course he is the undisputed greatest son of the city. If you visit Louisville, you should definitely visit the “Muhammad Ali Center” (144 N. Sixth Street). There the beginnings of Cassius Clay, as Ali was called by birth name, come back to life. Videos, films, photos and personal memorabilia not only trace his life, but also portray the entire post-war era, from the Vietnam War to the present. So you don’t necessarily have to be enthusiastic about boxing to be able to spend a few entertaining and educational hours in this center.
City of delightful contrasts
In Louisville, the modern and the traditional are combined, the natural habitats are on par with the urban, art and culture do not have to compete with shopping and gastronomy. It is the attraction and also the uniqueness of this city that everything is apparently allowed to exist side by side on an equal footing. In downtown Louisville, the skyscrapers dominate the impressive skyline. Not far from it, “Old Louisville” is fascinating. Only Victorian houses and buildings stand in this historic district. The neighborhood is the largest of its kind in the United States and the third largest in the world. Not visiting Old Louisville would be a real tourist sin! Incidentally, it would also miss out on some of the best shops, restaurants and bars in town. Also a must: strolling along West Main Street in downtown Louisville. If that feels a little like the “Big Apple”, then that’s well observed. This street is home to the largest collection of wrought-iron facades after SoHo in New York.
Cheers, have a bourbon on it!
Facts about the regional economy are not always interesting for tourists. In Louisville they should be. This is the city where whiskey is distilled, even world-famous whiskey. Those in the know know that real scotch has only one rival – real bourbon from Kentucky. So it’s no wonder that Louisville even offers tours of the history and production facilities of this specialty. Whiskey lovers will get to know world-famous distilleries, but also very small, fine distilleries that only sell their treasures to hand-picked customers. Whiskey fans shouldn’t miss this tour. The most stylish combination would of course be to drink a Kentucky bourbon for a big win at a horse race. You would have to be in Louisville on the first Saturday in May. Since 1875 the most prestigious race in the USA has taken place on this day at the “Churchill Downs” racecourse. An unforgettable experience for European horse lovers too!
A look back into the past
The foundation stone for the fortunes of many families in Kentucky and Louisville was laid on the plantations. Plantations where mostly slaves from Africa had to do the hard work. How masters and slaves once lived, lived and worked can be impressively understood on “Locust Grove” (561 Blankenbaker Lane). The property documents the beginnings of the state of Kentucky, the founding of Louisville and the life of the Clark Croghan family who originally owned the plantation. That may sound dry at first, but it is a real experience. The living quarters of the owners are in stark contrast to the accommodation of the slaves, which are also shown on the tour. Incidentally, the historical sites are surrounded by many hectares of lush nature, so that you should allow enough time for this.
